Myrmeconycha pakaluki Konstantinov and Tishechkin, 2017

Konstantinov, A. S. & Tishechkin, A. K., 2017, Myrmeconycha new genus: the first myrmecophilous flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), Insecta Mundi 2017 (525), pp. 1-13 : 4

Myrmeconycha pakaluki Konstantinov and Tishechkin , new species

( Fig. 20 – 31)

Description. Body length 3.45 – 3.72 mm, width 1.72 – 1.81 mm. Color light ochre, except apex of antennomere 4 and antennomeres 5 to 7 dark. Head and pronotum covered with waxy secretion.

Head with impressions lateral to antennal calli shallow. Anterofrontal ridge much longer than width of frontal ridge, forming Y-shaped structure together. Proportions of male antennomeres 1 – 6 as follows: 15:7:12:11:11:10.

Pronotum with basal central cell without ridge in middle, much smaller than basal lateral and central cells. Anterior wall of basal central cell absent. Anterolateral setiferous pore situated on a rounded appendage. Pronotal punctures small, barely visible through wax.

Third (humeral) elytral ridge bent gradually. Proportions of mesotarsomeres in male as follows: 22:14:15 (including setae):25. Proportions of metatarsomeres in male as follows: 28:17:15 (including setae):23.

Aedeagus gradually narrowing towards apex, with small knob apically. Apex sharply bent ventrally in lateral view. Sclerotized part of spermathecal pump shorter than membranous part.

Etymology. This species is named after the late Jim Pakaluk, a friend and fellow coleopterist at the USNM between 1993 and 1998.

Material examined. Holotype, male. 1) Panama: Canal Area , Barro Colorado N.M. Gigante Peninsula 22 Jun’ 92 Fog.#10 Coll. John E. Tobin; 2 ) Holotype Myrmeconycha pakaluki sp. nov. Konstantinov and Tishechkin 2016 ( USNM) . Paratype, male. Same data labels as holotype ( USNM).